We all deserve to hear nice things about ourselves once in a while.
Yes, even a Chicago Bears team coming off a brutal home loss to the Washington Commanders.
Even still … New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick took things to another level:
The print is tiny. But I swear the click-through is worth it.
In the meantime, here are some highlights:
- “(T)his is a pretty impressive group and really a young team that you can see getting better all the time.”
- Justin Fields is a “major threat every time he touches the ball.”
- Darnell Mooney is “an outstanding receiver” who is “very good at everything.”
- Rookie returner/receiver Velus Jones Jr. is a “strong, explosive guy” in the return game who is “really dangerous with the ball in his hands.”
- DeAndre Houston-Carson “is really one of the better coverage players that we’ll see all year.
- Robert Quinn is “one of the greatest defensive linemen in this era. (Hey, throw the Bears a pick for Quinn if you like him so much, Bill!)
It really goes on and on. Punter Trenton Gill, defensive back Dane Cruikshank, receiver Dante Pettis, linebacker Nicholas Morrow, running back Trestan Ebner, rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon, veteran leader Roquan Smith, and kicker Cairo Santos are among those who get name-checked by Belichick. I know I’m missing a name or two, but I think you get the picture.
This is where you’d expect me to say something along the lines of “Awww, shucks! Bill! You’re making us blush.”
But this is why I won’t:
Back in 2018, Belichick showered Matt Nagy’s bears with effusive praise. And while the Bears came a yard short from completing a Hail Mary touchdown that would’ve put the team in a position to tie the game on a final play, those Bears weren’t as good as Belichick made them out to be. So I’m on high alert for the embellishment.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice? Well, you can’t get fooled again!